Reimbursement of drugs

Verified 13 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Would you like to know how much medication is reimbursed? The Health Insurance (Social Security) covers all or part of the medicines purchased in pharmacies. This depends on both the medicine concerned and the conditions of prescription and dispensing. The rate of reimbursement depends on the medical service rendered, i.e. the interest that this drug has from a medical point of view. We present you the rules to know.

3 cumulative conditions must be met for reimbursement: the drug is listed, it is prescribed by a health professional and is dispensed by a pharmacist.

Medicines on a list

To be reimbursed, the drug must be on the list of medications reimbursable to social insureds.

Please note

Homeopathic medicines and homeopathic masterpieces (HMP) are no longer reimbursed by the Health Insurance.

There are nicotine substitutes. It is a drug treatment that increases the chances of successfully quitting smoking.

Nicotine substitutes on the list of reimbursed nicotine substitutes shall be reimbursed to 65% on medical prescription.

The part of the expenses that remains at your expense (after reimbursement of the Health Insurance and before deduction of flat-rate contributions) can be supported by your complementary.

FYI  

Pharmacies may waive the advance fee for these products.

Prescription by a health professional

The drug must be prescribed by a health professional, within the limits of its limitation rights :

  • General practitioner or specialist
  • Midwife (within the limits of a drug shortlist)
  • Dental surgeon.

The prescription must be made on a prescription in accordance with the regulations. Thus, certain particulars are mandatory (examples: dosage and duration of treatment or number of boxes or vials).

If it is a so-called exceptional drug, the prescription is made on a specific printed called prescription of drugs or exceptional products and services. The so-called medications of exception are particularly expensive. The National Order of Pharmacists listed these drugs.

Dispensing by the pharmacist

The pharmacist delivers the medicine to you.

In principle, the pharmacist can supply you with a quantity of medicines corresponding to a treatment lasting a maximum of 1 month (except for example for a departure abroad of more than 1 month).

Other rules of issue may apply depending on the situation (for example, for a wheelchair).

FYI  

One corresponding pharmacist may renew a prescription for the treatment of a long-term illness and, if necessary, adapt the dosage.

For certain pathologies, and under certain conditions, the pharmacist may dispense certain non-prescription medicines.

The dispensing of these drugs implies that the patient's attending physician is informed by the pharmacist.

To be reimbursed, the care sheet must be transmitted to your health insurance organization (the pharmacist automatically transmits it electronically).

For some drugs, it is necessary to make a request for prior agreement with your health insurance organization (example: for certain cholesterol medications).

You can benefit from the third-party payer with most pharmacists.

If you refuse a generic drug, you'll get less money back.

FYI  

Remember to update your Vitale card at least once a year or when changing circumstances (e.g. moving).

Information on the price and reimbursement rate of each drug is included on an invoice printed by the pharmacist on the back of the prescription (called an invoice) Vital ticket).

In the pharmacy, depending on whether the reimbursable drug is exposed to public view, the price is indicated by:

  • Display
  • Label
  • Freely accessible catalog
  • Or internet interface giving access to a national baseline.

Classification of medicinal products

Medicines are classified into several categories according to their medical service rendered (SMR): irreplaceable and expensive medication, major or important SMR, moderate SMR, low SMR.

Tableau - Drug reimbursement rates based on their SMR

Categories of medicines

Reimbursement rate

Irreplaceable and expensive drug

100%

Major or important SMR drug

65%

Moderate SMR drug and some compounding

30%

Drug with low SMR

15%

The reimbursement rate shall apply on the basis of:

  • The selling price (price set by regulation)
  • Or a flat rate of liability (reference rate for the reimbursement of certain medicines).

Please note

Nicotine substitutes on the list of reimbursed nicotine substitutes shall be reimbursed to 65% on medical prescription.

Medical deductible

One frankness from €1 is deducted from the medicines reimbursed by the Health Insurance (directly from the reimbursement statement).

The amount of the medical deductible is capped at €50 per year and per person.

Example :

If you buy a box of medicines for an amount of €20, and that this medicinal product is reimbursed to 65%, the Health Insurance will reimburse you €12. Calculation detail: €13 (65% from €20) which are removed €1 of frankness.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Health Info Rights

    Telephone line created by a collective of user associations to provide legal or social information related to health

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    The maximum response time by email is 15 days.

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